Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Ashland University Bands Host OPCICA Festival

On January 21-23, 2011 the Department of Music hosted the OPCICA Festival (Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Associations Honors Festival). Approximately 120 students from 20 Ohio Private Colleges and their conductors attended the Festival. The students were selected by the directors to form the Honors Concert Band and Honors Jazz Band. This annual event is an excellent opportunity for our best students to meet and work with student musicians from other private colleges, as we as learn from faculty at those institutions.

Founded in 1987, The Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association (OPCICA) is comprised of more than twenty private colleges and universities Ohio. The primary purpose of the organization is to develop a closer network of communication and resource sharing among the instrumental departments, divisions, or conservatories of the various privately funded member institutions of higher education.

An additional purpose of the organization is to sponsor an annual honors festival featuring an Honors Concert Band and an Honors Jazz Ensemble, each comprised of students from the participating schools. The first honors band festival was held on January 24, 1988 at Capital University. Festivals have been held every year since with the location rotating between the various member schools. These festivals have enriched the lives of hundreds of college instrumentalists as well as the conductors from many of the state's private institutions. Additionally, the Honors Concert Band has performed at three Ohio Music Education Association Conferences.

The concert featuring the OPCICA Honors Concert Band, the OPCICA Honors Jazz Ensemble, and the Ashland University Concert Band, and the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra was held Sunday, January 23 at Hugo Young Theatre.

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ASHLAND MUSIC NEWS is a blog to provide news and information about our programs, students, faculty, and ensembles.Ashland University is a private, comprehensive institution in Ashland, OH, founded in 1878.The Department of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.